“Lighting the Way for the Holidays” set for Nov. 27 on Hattiesburg Campus

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) invites members of local communities to its Hattiesburg campus to celebrate the holiday season with its annual “Lighting the Way for the Holidays” Tuesday, Nov. 27 beginning at 6 p.m. at the front lawn of the Aubrey K. Lucas Administration Building. The event is presented by the USM Student Government Association.

Madeline Laurendine, who serves as student co-director for Lighting the Way, said the event will include refreshments, arts and crafts, cookie decorating, caroling and the opportunity to visit with Santa Claus for photos and share your wish list with him, among other activities, culminating with the lighting of the campus Christmas tree.

“Lighting the Way” also supports a local charitable cause, and this year proceeds from sales of “Giving Tree” decorations and donations to the event will support Leadership Pine Belt’s community service project “Shelter Hattiesburg,” an effort to construct bus stop shelters designed for Hattiesburg Public School District students traveling to their respective schools.

“Christmas is my favorite holiday, and we’ve really enjoyed partnering with campus and community organizations to plan Lighting the Way,” said Laurendine, a junior nursing major from Magnolia Springs, Ala. “And by supporting Shelter Hattiesburg, we as students have an opportunity to make a lasting impact on our community. We hope everyone will come out and join us for this wonderful event.”